# Windows 11 Application Update Strategy – Patch My PC, WinGet, and Microsoft Store

#### **Category:** Windows 11 / System Maintenance  
**Purpose:** Automate updates for third-party Windows applications  
**Target Audience:** Home users, power users, IT professionals  
**Date:** 12/28/2025

---

## Overview

Keeping third-party Windows applications up to date is critical for **security, stability, and performance**, but manually checking each vendor is inefficient and error prone.

**Patch My PC Home Updater** is a **free, lightweight utility** that automatically scans for outdated applications and updates them silently in the background. It complements Windows Update and Microsoft Store auto-updates by handling **non-Store desktop applications**.

This guide documents how to install, configure, and automate Patch My PC Home Updater on **Windows 11**.

---

## What Patch My PC Home Updater Does

Patch My PC Home Updater focuses on **third-party application patching**, not Windows itself.

### Key Capabilities

- Scans installed applications for outdated versions
- Updates supported apps automatically or on demand
- Supports **silent installs** (no pop-ups)
- Uses **Windows Task Scheduler** for automation
- Can install or uninstall supported apps
- Portable (no traditional installer required)

### What It Does *Not* Do

- Does **not** update Microsoft Store apps
- Does **not** manage Windows Updates
- Only updates applications included in its supported catalog

---

## Supported Application Types (Examples)

Patch My PC supports hundreds of popular applications, including:

- Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- Media tools (VLC, 4K Video Downloader)
- Utilities (Notepad++, 7-Zip)
- VPN clients (Proton VPN)
- Vendor tools (Raspberry Pi Imager)

Applications like **Battle.net, Steam, Discord**, and GPU drivers are intentionally excluded since they handle their own updates internally.

---

## Installation

1. Download Patch My PC Home Updater from the official site:  
    **[https://patchmypc.com/home-updater](https://patchmypc.com/home-updater)**
    
    [![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/FIhPc8YClc0X9NIm-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/FIhPc8YClc0X9NIm-image.png)
2. Run `PatchMyPC.exe` (run as administrator for best functionality)
3. No installation wizard, no account, no ads

The application will immediately scan your system.

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/AwG9eAt1r9TXb9i6-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/AwG9eAt1r9TXb9i6-image.png)

---

## Initial Update Baseline

On first launch:

- Outdated apps appear **in red**
- Up-to-date apps appear **in green**

Click **Perform Updates** once to bring all supported apps fully up to date.  
This establishes a clean baseline before enabling automation.

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/B2mf1ggYjBCxl7DF-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/B2mf1ggYjBCxl7DF-image.png)

---

## Recommended Configuration

Open **Settings** (gear icon) and apply the following:

### Safety Settings

- Create restore point before updating
- Skip updates if an app is currently running

### Silent Operation

- Enable silent updates
- Suppress reboot prompts
- Disable post-install auto-launch

### Cleanup

- Delete installers after installation

These settings ensure updates run **quietly and safely in the background**.

---

## Application Selection

Under **Settings → Applications**:

- Review the supported app list
- Uncheck any apps you prefer to update manually
- Leave common utilities and browsers enabled

This gives you granular control over what Patch My PC manages.

---

## Automatic Scheduling (Core Feature)

Patch My PC uses **Windows Task Scheduler** for automation.

1. Go to **Settings → Scheduling**
2. Enable **Automatically update applications**
3. Recommended schedule:
    
    
    - Frequency: Weekly
    - Day: Sunday
    - Time: Early morning (e.g., 3:00 AM)

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/4fVbIjiaISh0g8QD-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/4fVbIjiaISh0g8QD-image.png)

Once enabled, Patch My PC will run automatically without user interaction.

---

## Verifying the Scheduled Task (Optional)

To confirm the task exists:

1. Press **Win + R**
2. Run:
    
    ```powershell
    taskschd.msc
    ```
    
    [![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/yvGHSXh6eoTGR4pK-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/yvGHSXh6eoTGR4pK-image.png)
3. Navigate to:
    
    ```powershell
    Task Scheduler Library → Patch My PC
    ```
    
    [![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/9NuudtbzDlCMXiN4-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/9NuudtbzDlCMXiN4-image.png)

---

## Recommended Companion: WinGet

For broader application coverage, **Patch My PC Home Updater pairs effectively with WinGet (Windows Package Manager)**. While Patch My PC focuses on common third-party desktop applications, WinGet excels at managing developer tools, command-line utilities, and Microsoft-maintained packages.  
  
Right click start button > Run Terminal as administrator

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/KR2GaXOPtzmGai13-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/KR2GaXOPtzmGai13-image.png)

### WinGet Command

Run this once to create the folder, then run the WinGet command.

### Create Folder

```powershell
New-Item -Path "C:\Logs" -ItemType Directory -Force
```

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/3WoUAtimIuwZ5EaW-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/3WoUAtimIuwZ5EaW-image.png)

### Then run this command

```powershell
winget upgrade --all
```

This will show everything happening in the terminal window:

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/scaled-1680-/lXKN61jQFpmiK3Qw-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-12/lXKN61jQFpmiK3Qw-image.png)

**Note Ubisoft connect failed because it sux and it probably needs a game to be launched before updating**

To run silently and just record to the log file we can run this:

```powershell
winget upgrade --all --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements >> C:\Logs\winget.log 2>&1
```

---

### Optional (.ps1 script for better logging)

If you want the log to include timestamps and also capture errors cleanly:  
  
Copy the code below in NPP and save as a .ps1 file

```powershell
New-Item -Path "C:\Logs" -ItemType Directory -Force
"==== $(Get-Date) ====" | Out-File -FilePath "C:\Logs\winget.log" -Append -Encoding utf8
winget upgrade --all --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements 2>&1 | Out-File -FilePath "C:\Logs\winget.log" -Append -Encoding utf8
```

This command updates all supported WinGet-managed applications silently and is well-suited for automation through Task Scheduler and also provides a log file at C:\\Logs\\ for any errors.

---

## Best Practice Update Coverage

A layered approach provides the most reliable results:

- **Patch My PC** - Browsers, utilities, media tools, VPN clients
- **WinGet** - Developer tools, CLI utilities, Microsoft-maintained packages
- **Microsoft Store** - Store applications (auto-updates enabled)

These tools operate independently, do not conflict, and together provide near-complete application update coverage on Windows 11.

---

## Security & Reliability Notes

- Patch My PC is widely trusted in both home and enterprise environments
- Uses vendor-provided installers with no repackaging
- No account creation or telemetry tracking required
- Optional system restore points provide rollback protection during updates

---

## Final Notes

Patch My PC Home Updater significantly reduces manual maintenance while improving overall system security and reliability.

When combined with **WinGet automation** and **Microsoft Store auto-updates**, it creates a **fully automated, low-maintenance application update strategy** suitable for both home labs and professional Windows 11 environments.